Amazon Kindle 2019 Review

The Best Just Got Better

eReaders have come a long way since Amazon
first launched the Kindle 12 years ago. From large institutions down to your
parents, people have embraced the concept of eReaders in a way not considered
possible when they first launched. Amazon has always taken a minimalistic
approach to the Kindle line, slowly pushing out new features while keeping the
core experience relatively unchanged.

While the Amazon Kindle Paper White has long
sat as the most desirable in the Kindle range, the base model has been slowly
issued updates, inching it ever closer to the features you want from a modern
eReader. For 2019, Amazon kept up this trend, pushing out some much needed
updates and giving a noticeable screen improvement with a much sought after
frontlight. While it still will not compete in specs with the likes of the
Kindle Paper White or the Kindle Oasis, Amazon has made the base model Kindle
feel like a much more modern, well positioned entry level eReader.

This years Kindle is noticeably smaller and
lighter than the Kindle Paper White. Sitting at 6.3 inches tall and around 4.3
inches wide, and weighing only around 170 grams, the Kindle is easy to use one
handed. Feeling akin to a paperback book, the Kindle will add little to your
bag while traveling or on your daily commute.

Amazon Kindle 2019 – Review Images by CGMagazine

The 6-inch capacitive E Ink touchscreen has
received a noticeable upgrade in resolution, offering a 167 pixels per inch
display. While it is still not at the level of the Paper White at 300 pixels
per inch, it still felt clear, and easy to use as my daily go-to when I wanted
to pick up a light read.

For 2019, the Kindle also received a much welcomed
LED front-light. Granted, it is limited to four LED’s compared to the Paper
White’s five, but you would be hard pressed to notice much difference in daily
use. If you look hard at the edges of the screen, each LED can be seen. Thanks
to the layer that guides the light however, it is for the most part distributed
evenly over the screen, giving it a nice, if not a bit dim light for nightly
reading.

While the light is noticeably less bright than
you would find on the Paper White, or the Oasis, it works staggeringly well in
real world use. I have never been a fan of a bright front light when using an
eReader, and for the most part have the light set to “low” for most of my
nighttime reading. Even with the light, I found my eye-strain was significantly
less than what I previously experienced, especially compared to looking at my
phone or another backlit screen type device.

Amazon Kindle 2019 (left) Kindle Paperwhite (Right)

Now, we all know the fabled stories of the
Kindle battery life. Frankly, it’s one of my main reasons I invest in an
ereader, and this years Kindle is no different. The 2019 Kindle boasts that it
can last for four weeks on a single change based on moderate reading of around
thirty minutes of reading every day. And judging by my time with the device,
this boast holds true. After about a week of testing, using it around 20-40
minutes daily, I have only managed to reduce the battery to 73%. Of course,
this would be lower had I had some late night reading sessions, but as it
stands, Amazon have managed to keep the legendary battery life claim intact in
this latest revision.

I am not one to use my Kindle for audiobooks,
but this latest revision comes with bluetooth enabled for all your Audible
needs. Frankly, this is one feature that while nice, is something I don’t find
myself using often. With only 4GB worth of internal storage, and with the
battery drain the Bluetooth audio puts on the Kindle, it never really made
sense. But for anyone that wants to mix up audio and text based reading, the
2019 Kindle has you covered.

Beyond the new features, the new 2019 Kindle
still feels very much like what we have grown to expect from the Kindle lineup.
The software works, and gets out of the way for the most part, having a very
minimal, utilitarian vibe throughout. The typing experience is still just as painful
as I have seen in previous models, but at its core, everything works.

Amazon Kindle 2019 – Review Images by CGMagazine

The new Kindle has 90% of what you would want
from a Kindle, and for many that is enough. It does lack the waterproof nature
of the newer Kindle Paper White models, and the resolution, while an
improvement, still pales in comparison. But at the end of the day, for the
price this Kindle is hard to beat.

At a staggeringly low price tag of $80 CDN on sale ($119 regular price), the new 2019 Kindle offers amazing value. While it may lack some of the features common on higher-end devices in the range, if you can live without a few bells and whistles and don’t plan on reading in the bathtub, the new 2019 Kindle is a must own for any budget focused reader.

8.5

While lacking some of the features seen on the Paper White, the new 2019 Kindle offers plenty of value for the staggeringly low price of entry.